India reclaims crucial Khalubar, Pt 4812 and Dog Hill

Indian troops made significant gains in the
Batalik sector during the past 24 hours, capturing Khalubar, Point
4812 and Dog Hill after killing 55 Pakistani soldiers as fierce
fighting continued in a spur of Tiger Hill in Drass.

The number of Pakistani soldiers killed went up to 542 while
Indian casualties rose to 283 with the death of six armymen in the
Batalik operations. On the Indian side 451 have been wounded while
10 are missing.

The bodies of 12 soldiers, who were reported missing in action,
were recovered, army spokesman Colonel Bikram Singh said at a briefing
today.

The Indian Air Force could not carry out attacks today because
of extensive clouds although planes took off in Batalik, Group
Captain D N Ganesh, joint director of air operations, said.

While last night army plans did not envisage any air strikes
the IAF carried out successful attacks at 1700 hours, east of Mantho
Dhalo.

Khalubar, a very dominating feature in Batalik sector, was
reclaimed after a gallant operation by the 11 Gorkha Rifles last
night. As per last reports, 43 field fortifications of the
Pakistanis were destroyed and the Indian troops had advanced
northwards where fierce fighting was going on.

The operation was personally led by the commanding officer Colonel
Lalit Rai, who despite being wounded on Sunday, refused to be
evacuated.

Twenty three Pakistani soldiers were killed at Kahlubar while
three Indian soldiers laid down their lives. During the mopping up
operations, two heavy weapons -- a 12.7 mm KPVT and one 14.3 mm
KPVT -- were recovered along with a huge quantity of ammunition and
documents belonging to 5 Northern Light Infantry.

Col Singh said the Pakistanis left behind 11 dead bodies which
were dumped in a shallow pit.

In another brave operation, the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
won Point 4812 in an overnight battle. This battalion had recaptured
Point 5203 on the night of June 10-11. At Point 4812, where fighting
is still continuing in the outskirts of the position, 26 Pakistani
soldiers were killed while three Indians died.

Ladakh Scouts captured Dog Hill, west of Point 5000, in another
overnight battle, killing six Pakistan army men. Two heavy
machine guns, one sniper rifle and two G-3 rifles along with a large
quantity of ammunition were recovered.

Col Singh said mopping up operations at Tiger Hill and Point
4875 in Drass sector were continuing. Fierce fighting was still
going on on a spur of Tiger Hill, he added.

Meanwhile, the army has reliable inputs to show that the Chitral
Scouts, a specialised force, has been employed with the Northern
Light Infantry in Kargil sector, Col Singh said.

Asked to comment on a newspaper report that Pakistani withdrawal
had started two days back from Tiger Hill, Col Singh said that was
not true. In fact, the Pakistanis had carried out a counter attack on
Point 4875 but that was repulsed.

About change of position of Pakistani troops on the Line of Control, he said
the Indian Army was ready for all contingencies. Asked whether the
army was fighting 'with one hand tied', he said the armed forces had
full freedom in these operations within the parameters that had been
set.

He said the area of intrusions had shrunk. At Khalubar, the
intrusion had been three kilometres from the LoC which was reduced to
1.5 kilometres after the operations were completed in the area.

Regarding the prisoner of war taken by the Indian Army, Col
Singh said the Pakistani was being taken care of as per the Geneva
Convention. The PoW, Naik Inayat Ali of 5 Northern Light Infantry,
captured in the Batalik sector, has been brought to Delhi.